DEADLY UNION

THE CRIME

In August 1985, Russell Causley, an electronics engineer in the aviation industry, reported that his wife, Carole, an aeronautical draughtswoman, had been missing from their home in Bournemouth, England, for a month, having left behind her wedding ring and a goodbye note. Her disappearance came days after meeting a lawyer to discuss divorcing her husband, who was having an affair. Six months later, a woman claiming to be Carole walked into the Bournemouth police station and said she was “fine.” Police dropped the case.

THE KILLER

In 1993 Causley, having never been investigated over his wife’s disappearance, was convicted of faking his own drowning with the help of his mistress, Patricia Causley, who claimed Russell had fallen from a boat and not resurfaced. For attempting to claim £800,000 in insurance he was sentenced to two years’ prison, while Patricia received a suspended sentence. In light of his conviction, police took a second look at Carole’s disappearance and found enough evidence—including the fact they could find no trace of Carole—to charge Russell with murder. In 1996, Russell was found guilty of murder and handed a life sentence.

THE MISTRESS

Russell started up an insurance business in Bournemouth in 1983, and hired Patricia Causley. They began an affair. In 1984, she moved into the home Russell shared with Carole and daughter Samantha. “It was the most bizarre thing,” says Williams-thomas. “Carole becomes quite disillusioned by the whole thing.” After Carole’s disappearance, Patricia allegedly began using Carole’s identity for her own gain, including to obtain a permit to work in Canada with Russell. “Who is it, then, who takes on Carole’s identity and walks into the police station in 1986?” asks Williams-thomas. “You draw your own conclusion from there.”

THE MOTIVE

According to Williams-thomas, Carole’s murder was all about greed. After Patricia moved into the family home, Carole made inquires about getting a divorce. “I believe what happened is she told [Russell], ‘I’m leaving you,’ and in his mind he said, ‘You’re not,’ ” says Williams-thomas. “It was about money. She would have taken the house and he was never going to let that happen.” It is alleged Russell confessed to the crime to a fellow inmate while in jail for insurance fraud. Russell, who changed his surname to that of his mistress after his wife disappeared, is serving a life sentence (with a minimum of 16 years) and has been denied parole twice. In Russell’s murder trial, the judge called Russell and Patricia a “wicked pair,” even though Patricia had not been charged in relation to the murder. Patricia has since changed her name and lives in England. Says Williams-thomas: “Patricia has some serious questions to answer in respect to her knowledge of Carole’s murder.” Patricia Causley has never been named as a suspect or been charged in Carole Packman’s suspected murder. She has denied any involvement in or knowledge of Carole’s murder.